ChasingKendall - Page 4 of 48 - Fashion and Lifestyle Blog based in San Francisco, CA

Unlike any year before, Katie and I decided to pull the trigger on Coachella about a week before the festival — 🤯🤯but so fun! Because of our last minute timing, I couldn’t do any of the typical outfit inspo blog posts heading into the weekend. 😭But I did a hell of a lot of binge shopping, frantically tying get my outfits in order. I do love Coachella for that reason — it forces me to do all the shopping I’ve been holding off on hahah, reading up on and grabbing all the latest trends so I can present the best, most fun confident version of myself… Coachella is quite inspirational and effective for that reason. 😆

Lately, I’ve been noticing how women accessorize really says a lot about their personal style, so I raked in a tonnnn of new jewelry to amp up my game. You can be in a t-shirt and jeans but with some badass rings and layered gold necklaces, instantly the outfit is polished. 👌🏼✨

I probably did more jewelry shopping before Coachella than I’ve done in the last 5 years combined, but I wound up with some great finds that I wanted to share with you all. Because unlike some of the crazy festival attire, this jewelry is wearable every day, and super on-trend.

The three major players in the jewelry game right now?? Shells, colorful beads, and layered gold chains.

JEWELRY UNDER $10

JEWELRY UNDER $30

JEWELRY UNDER $75

Another thing… I’ve been wearing my necklaces from VibeSzn, Ready-Made Jewelry, and Mason Miru – SO 👏🏼MUCH. 👏🏼 They make great layering pieces, some customizable too, and all at reasonable prices. The only reason they aren’t pictured above is they don’t exist on the carousel platform, but they’re the besssssssst so I had to mention — check ’em out! 👍🏼

*Please comment below if you have any specific questions on pairings or how to layer!! XO 😁

Discover Travel

Seattle Travel Guide

Posted on March 12, 2019

Where to Stay

So I actually can’t speak to the hotels in the area since we stayed in an Airbnb this time. But omg it might as well have been a 5 start hotel for all the amenities haha. Brian, our host was superrrr friendly and even stocked the place up! — Bagels, cereal, bars, drinks (yes, even La Croix 🙌🏼). Along with shampoos, conditioners and all the regular bathroom amenities you’d expect to see at a hotel. It was very clean, newly remodeled and had views of the water, downtown and Space Needle. Can’t recommend this place enough for a trip to Seattle! ✔️🏠

Where to Eat

NUE

Starting off with what may have been my favorite meal of the trip, Nue! We totally stumbled on this place (validated by some amazing yelp reviews) and decided, why not give it a go?! (An outstanding decision, I might add). We literally took a tour around the world while sitting at brunch. The menu is super eclectic, will all sorts of flavors and cuisines, yet still delivered a brunch that is hearty and classic enough it didn’t disappoint.

ORDER THE: Filipino Tosilog, South African Sunny Bunny, Chengdu Chicken & Waffles (PRO TIP: if you’re in a group, get the Tower of Chengdu Wings with a side of waffles 😋). For a sweet treat? 👉🏼 Side Cornbread, with coconut and pineapple – don’t skip it!

Psst – The cocktail list is rad too! Full bar open, all unique drinks + bottomless mimosas for $20 if you’re feelin’ frisky.

SPINASSE

Upscale Italian with fresh pasta – so like…duh. Spinasse is everything we needed for our fancy/hungover night out haha. We ordered all the pasta’s on the menu (don’t worry there’s only 4 haha) but each was phenom. They have killer negroni’s too 👌🏼

(There’s this other Italian place, The Pink Door, which I’ve heard is UH-mazinggg too we just didn’t have enough time 😩I’d def look into it though if you’re traveling to Seattle)!

STATESIDE

Yum yum Sunday brunch! Stateside brings a tropical, Asian, Hawaiian flare to typical brunch dishes and I ain’t complaining! Psst, don’t skip out on the Lychee mimosa… it comes with boba. 😱

LOWELL’S

What does every tourist do the first day they get to Seattle? Hit up Pikes Place Market haha. But where to eat when you get there?!?!?! We snagged a window table upstairs at Lowell’s and it couldn’t have been a better start to the trip. Cozy atmosphere with great views of the ocean. The fresh crab cakes, blackened fish tacos and local beer weren’t bad either. 😉❤️

Where to Drink

ZIG ZAG CAFE

Unfortunately when we were in the area (Pikes Place) of Zig Zag Cafe, it was too early aka not open yet. So I personally didn’t get to go… but it came highly recommended by several people (including the elite CNTraveler). I mean, a speakeasy cocktail bar?! There’s nothing I love more in the world. Go for me, pleaseeee!

FOG ROOM

Looking for a rooftop moment? Hit The Fog Room in the Charter Hotel (views pictured above). There’s also The Nest at the Thompson Hotel, however when I went, the outdoor portion of the roof wasn’t open so it was V crowded (and tbh, the vibe of the clientele was not quite my taste haha 😬). While The Nest has a wider 180° view overlooking the ocean, the vibe at The Fog Room is more chill, and a menu with the glassware pictured by each cocktail. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 So, pick your poison!

ODDFELLOWS CAFE + BAR

Oddfellows Cafe + Bar is the perfect place for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up. Right in the heart of trendy Capitol Hill, stop in for a much needed cortado or cocktail between destinations. Hell, it’s quite the destination itself! So good we went both days during our stay haha.

What to Do

TOTOKAELO

Legit died and went to heaven in here. Totokaelo is the store of my DREAMS (so much so that I did it’s own separate feature on my instagram). It’s very pricey though, so I mostly just looked, and snapped 500 photos for inspiration haha. But if you’re a fashion lover like myself, it’s a MUST. Tell your friends goodbye and get lost in there for hours. 🙃🛍

PRO TIP: It’s right next to Oddfellows Cafe (mentioned above) so if you need some liquid courage to spend, there ya have it! 😛

CAPITOL HILL

This area has some serious gravitational pull because we kept coming back here, both on purpose and on accident, every day in Seattle. It’s got everything! Boutique stores, cafes, cocktail lounges, dive bars, and super gay-friendly… AKA the ultimate hipster paradise haha. We mostly stayed in the very southern portion, walking around between 14th Ave. and Broadway, ya can’t go wrong!

PIKES PLACE MARKET

The first stop on every tourist’s list, and for good reason! (Unless you hate the smell of fish, of course 😜). The hustle and bustle, the ocean air, live piano players on, what seemed like, ever corner…I felt immersed in the Seattle vibe immediately when we went here. But there’s more than just fish! Get a giant donut, or hit up the dim sum counter, fancy some farmers market fruits and veggies? They have it all!

And, don’t forget to take a picture (or 7) with the infamous sign. 😁

All in all, Seattle exceeded my expectations. Maybe because we lucked out with 3 straight days of sun, atypical for Seattle, but I’m a new fan. Honestly, tt wasn’t super high on my priority lists of places to travel, but man was I wrong. The culinary scene REALLY impressed me, and as a SF foodie, that’s hard to do. There’s a lot to be discovered there and I’d go back in a heartbeat to hit the spots I missed out on.

Please comment below with any questions you have about my escapes around Seattle, or if you go to any of these spots, I’d love to know what you think!

Thanks for reading! XX, Kendall 😘

Travel

Miami Beach Travel Guide

Posted on February 24, 2019

Currently sitting here on the plane from Miami, with barely a brain cell left haha 😵😵 Sure…yes…FINE, there was a lot of drinking but also just sooo much stimulation, I about exploded everywhere we went. From the Webster, to Le Sirenuse, to yes..even Mango’s, I literally popped a few braincells from all the visual stimulation and need to absorb every last sight and sound. Thank god for iPhones and their unlimited photo capacity, am I right?!

I felt compelled to write a blog post travel guide because I actually think Miami is super underrated, at least on the West Coast. I even texted my best friend when I got there saying how unbelievable Miami was and her response?? …”Why?” – Just a WHY! Well, I’ll TELL YOU WHY.

Where to Stay

We somewhat randomly ended up staying at The Betsy just because they have a gym and piano bar, two things my dad can’t travel without. 😂But mannn am I thankful we did. The hotel was perfect.

Couldn’t have asked for a better location, right at the end of the Ocean Drive beachfront strip
Not 1 but 2 pools, one of which is on the roof with epic city views, made better by a glass of rosé
A greattt restaurant (that we literally had dinner at twice in 4 days haha oops…do yourself a favor and get the popovers, crab cake and spicy tuna roll – best I’ve ever had. 🙌🏼
A piano bar with live music, different styles every night #classy
Malin + Goetz products in the bathroom (oh come on, you know that’s a perk lol).

I’m already plotting my return stay. I’m coming back for those hot popovers dammit.

Where to Eat

LE SIRENUSE

Straight out of a movie set I’ve never seen such a beautiful bar. Even the food and drinks held up to my high expectations, they’re outstanding. The cocktails alone are a spectacle, with their intricate ingredients and “essence” sprayed across the top of each glass. Ugh probably my favorite place of the whole trip but it’s priceyyy. If anything, go for just a cocktail.

VERSACE MANSION

My most important PSA: Anyone can go into the Versace mansion for dinner or drinks! 🙌🏼 Dinner takes a reservation that apparently needs months lead time but drinks is an on the spot kinda deal. Their only requirement is that you look nice, no beach attire. 😛The food and cocktails are amazing, but being in there is more amazing. It’s magical.

MILOS (left) / Villa Azur (right)

As you can see from the fresh fish, Milos has maybe the bestttt greek food I’ve ever had. Villa Azur is definitely a “different” dining experience, somewhat like a club atmosphere with it very dimly lit and music playing…as your meal goes on the vibe escalates. Tables start getting sparkling bottles of champagne and it starts to turn up and up (def go thurs-sat though for the fun crowds).

LA SANDWICHERIE

Where you go for your traditional cuban, and to make your drunk dreams come true 😋. Because yes, it’s open late night…late, late night. The biggest and best sandwiches in town.

Where to Drink

BROKEN SHAKER — I didn’t actually get to go here, so sad (it looks V instagrammable haha). But, I can speak to the one in LA and the cocktails are inventive, beautiful anddd tasty. So you should and have a drink for me!

MONTY’S

Great views and live music. 👌🏼 Monty’s overlooks the harbor, so it’s a great place to watch the sunset. Super chill vibe, raw bar (and great sushi), plus live music at 5:30 on weekends. Tossing back an Aperol Spritz, outside watching the sunset, listening to reggae is a pretty damn good first day in Miami.

SMITH & WOLENSKY

This place is also overlooking the harbor and bike path, which not only makes it super fun to people watch, but also watch the GIANT cruise ships pass by as they sail out of Miami. Grab a glass of rose and hang outside, but definitely don’t skip out on the bread and butter, for real.

MANGO’S TROPICAL CAFE

Totally cheesy and the drinks are sweet (stick to the basics like a vodka soda or champagne hah) but I have to give it to my dad, it was pretty entertaining. Lots of high energy, costumes and feathers galore – salsa, tango, you name it. Mango’s is an Ocean Drive piece of history. 💃

What to Do

THE WEBSTER

Walking into The Webster is not like walking into a boutique, it’s like walking into a museum. The clothes so intricately arranged in their displays, each piece hand selected for the store by the best buyer in the world (IMO). Unfortunately, you pretty much can’t go in there without spending over $500 lol, 😬 but I promise, if you’re into fashion it’s worth a look. The styles are just beyonddddd gorgeous and super unique; the BEST of fashion, and TBH, where I believe I’ll go to heaven. 😇🛍😛

HOTEL HOP

There are a series of hotels along south beach that are fun to pop in and out of for different drinks and vibes. I like seeing the design and architecture of each one, (along with grabbing a cocktail, let’s be honest haha). Something about walking into a new cool hotel excites me! I guess I like the promise of fun experiences ahead.

BIKE ALONG THE WATER

Theres a long biking and walking path that runs all down the beach and wraps around to the harbor. Rent Citibikes and hit it! Seriouslyyy interesting people watching. Psst: the path hits Smith & Wolensky’s and Monty’s eventually 😉

I feel like Miami is never really talked about as a vacation destination, but I’m here to put it on BLAST! I’m literally obsessed with the vibe. The heat, the culture, the aesthetic, the vibe it’s just such an inspiring place… I thrive in. 💖🌴

If you have any questions about my stay, please ask away in the comments below! ☀️

Discover Stuff Travel

The Grande Penthouse at Hotel G

Posted on January 17, 2019

hotel G grande penthouse suite chasing kendall

I recently had the pleasure of staying in the newly renovated, Grande Penthouse Suite at Hotel G, so what did I do? Shoot in every corner of it….naturally. 😝 (It’s a good thing Katie sat this one out or she’d have been very frustrated at all the shots haha). Which actually speaks volumes to the aesthetic and design of the suite because I can’t help myself when I’m in such a beautiful space!

From the shower itself (yes, the shower) to the zebra bar area to the city scape view outside, the whole suite is magnificent… so magnificent you won’t want to leave. Which I didn’t, haha! Instead, I hit up a few of my homegirls and had them over for some wine on the private terrace. ☺️🍷🌇

I mean comeeee onnnn, a 180 degree view of the city?! Way too dreamy not to share! Turn on the fire pit and stay put through golden hour, you’ll thank me later. The way the sun illuminates the buildings is breathtaking. Everyone in SF knows that it’s rare to come across a balcony with a city view, so I was V ecstatic about this experience.

But best believe come sundown I kicked everyone out so I could wallow in the clean, plush, crisp white hotel bed. Anyone else just LOVE hotel beds?! Well, I have a thing for them and this one did not disappoint.

Although if I did want to venture out, Union Square is just a block away — so downtown SF is at your full disposal! PRO TIP: Check out the Mikkellar Bar nearby, one of my favorite brewers of all time resides here and it’s such a cozy atmosphere with the best beers in the Bay Area (you can quote me on that)! 😋

Want to book it for yourself? Here ya go!

Stay classy, SF ✨

Photography by myself & Vilerx

Booze Cocktails

Starting the New Year Clean, with a SKYY Martini

Posted on December 28, 2018

My OH MY I cannot believe 2018 is coming to an end, chock full of highs and lows. But I’m not here to review the year politically (yikes that’d be a lot 👀) but rather celebrate the new year to come. While 2018 has been a mess, I say we start 2019 clean — with a SKYY Martini. 👌🏼🍸✨

Ingredients (for 1):

2 oz SKYY Vodka
.75 oz dry vermouth
lemon (garnish)

Cocktail Recipe:

Pour vodka and dry vermouth into a cocktail shaker over ice
Shake vigorously until shaker condensates
Strain into a Nick and Nora glass (yes, straining is important because it eliminates bits of ice that broke off when shaking)
Garnish with a lemon peel 🍋
*extra credit* hold the lemon peel horizontally at a 45 degree angle from the top of the martini (the outside of the peel facing towards the drink) and bend in half to release citrus oils onto the top of the cocktail

Martini’s are one of my favorite drinks to order on festive occasions (they’re quite underrated IMO) I think maybe because the elegance of drinking them in the 50s faded when psycho America started making them bigger and bigger in those grossly oversized martini glasses. 😂👎🏼

Since cocktails pretty much don’t get any cleaner than the martini, I figured it’d be a great one to kick off the new year. Simple, elegant, straight forward… idk about you, but I’m trying to go into the new year with all those things. Less complexity. The way the world’s been turning, best believe champagne isn’t going to cut it this year, we need something a bit stiffer. 😉

Cheers to the New Year and happy sippin’! 🍸✨

This post was sponsored by SKYY Vodka but recipe and opinions are my own.

Booze Cocktails

Holiday Cocktail Recipe: The Blood Orange Rosemary Smash

Posted on December 9, 2018

Everyone get’s excited for certain things around the holidays….snow, presents, parties…but me? cocktails (okay fine…cuddling and cocktails 🤗🍸). A new season means a whole new batch of drinks I can make my rounds with at bars and at home.

I loveeee me some holiday cocktails, and my current fav? This Blood Orange Rosemary Smash. 🍊🌿

Ingredients (for 1):

1.5oz SKYY Infusions Blood Orange
1.5oz fresh blood orange juice
.5oz fresh lemon juice
.5oz rosemary simple syrup (*buy or make using instructions below)
soda water
rosemary for garnish

*Rosemary Simple Syrup

For making any simple syrup the ratio is 1:1, sugar:water

Pour 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water into a pot, with 1/4 cup rosemary (about 4 sprigs)
Stir together over medium-high heat, bringing to a boil, until sugar dissolves.
Simmer for 1 minute.
Remove from heat and let syrup steep, about 30 minutes.
Strain into a glass jar, let cool for about 30 min.

Cocktail Recipe:

Squeeze fresh blood orange and lemon juice.
Pour vodka, rosemary syrup and juices into cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
Strain into rocks glass with fresh ice.
Top with a splash of soda.
Garnish with blood orange slice and rosemary sprig.

So many winter drinks are driven by bourbon, but I wanted to make something a little more refreshing and light because they’re easier to drink at parties (and lord knows there’s TONS of those this time of year). Plus I just love how festive the drinks looks haha.

I made the Blood Orange Rosemary Smash for Katie this weekend and she’s already inquiring about shakin’ another up today with the extra oranges I have. 🤔😂 Guess it means this drink is a major success! 👏👏👏

~~Happy~~ Merry Sippin’ Sunday! Hope everyone has a festive and beautiful holiday season! ✨❄️

This post was sponsored by SKYY Vodka, recipe is my own

Discover Stuff

An Inside look at UberPride

Posted on November 12, 2018

Lucky me! I recently got the inside scoop, the 411, the down lowwwww at Uber! No no, not the key ingredient to creating a multi-million dollar company (unfortunately) but something even better (IMO). I got to take a look inside UberPride, one of the company’s ERGs (employee resource groups) and something that I’ve taken much more interest in lately given the political and social turmoil that our country is facing.

Of course I was excited to get a peek inside the Uber HQ but the day turned into SO.MUCH.MORE. than that. I had the pleasure of getting to know Ru Flores, a fellow lesbian and Senior Technical Recruiter at Uber. She also sits on the board of UberPride as the West Coast Lead, so in reality, a freakin’ baller human. Our champagne toast at the end of the day was more than deserved for all this lady has accomplished.

Let me backup and discuss UberPride for a sec. Everything from smaller company gatherings and weekly happy hours to sponsoring Pride celebrations across the globe, UberPride is dedicated to creating a safe space for LGBTQ people at Uber and beyond. 🏳️‍🌈

One that particular stuck out to me during our 1:1…

In response to the recent #WontBeErased movement (ICYMI: Members of our government *cough, cough* are essentially trying to erase trans people from our society), Ru held an online/VC “office hours” for all of North America and Canada so trans-identifying Uber employees could share their thoughts, struggles, and get some emotional support. Talk about a serious undertaking, but she did it, and I admire her and Uber for taking the initiative. 👏👏👏

Not only is UberPride there to directly help members of the LGBTQ community but also to educate non-LGBTQ people – and that’s equally necessary in my book. Next on the docket… a series of educational videos for prospective employees to make gay people feel more comfortable about working at Uber, and straight people more educated on LGBTQ issues and sensitive to our existence, should they come from environments where it’s not as prevalent of a reality as it is here in SF. HELL YES. Any other company owners out there reading this, take note, Uber has set the example. 💯

Dear Ru, you are all around badass; a super inspiring woman and leader. I’m so grateful for our time together. It’s so refreshing for me to talk to another gay woman in the city who’s making sh*t happen. I hope I see you again soon!

Our meeting left me feeling hopeful that the world is in-fact improving in small ways; that there are other people/companies out there making more equality and inclusion initiatives than the daily news leads me to believe.